Emergency (A City Hospital Novel 2) by Drew Zachary
The second in the City Hospital Novel is also probably the most romantic. As before it’s a Doctor/Nurse story, as before the Nurse is probably more assertive than the Doctor, but there is a difference: here the Doctor is also confused and on the brink of divorce from a woman.
Brian, the gay nurse, and Stephen, the (apparently) straight doctor, are friends; not best friends, but they like to go out and drink something when they manage to have their shift end at the same time. Stephen knows Brian is gay, and Brian knows Stephen is married and so there is no sexual tension between them, even if sometime Brian looks Stephen’s back, and I’m not meaning the shoulders… Then one night Stephen comes out (pun intended) with stunning news: he is divorcing and he is curious. Stephen’s marriage not only is not perfect, but maybe it was unconsciously a way for Stephen to deny his true self and being a little longer in the closet.
I had the feeling that Stephen, gay or not gay, is not exactly a man who faces his personal life full front; on the job he is good, steady and reliable, but on his private life he prefers to let it go, what is better for other people it’s good for him; he doesn’t fight, he doesn’t stomp his feet to obtain what he wants. When he was in college he was curious, he even had a man to man experience, but then he met his wife and it was convenient and easy to marry her and start an ordinary life. Only that his wife was not easily satisfied, and a half husband is not what she wants. Stephen’s wife is not a main character, she has not even a scene, but nevertheless I liked her: she simply realized that their life was not good for both of them, and she did everything in her power to correct the situation; she is not a bitch, she is not trying to ruin Stephen’s life, on the contrary, trying to have a better life for herself, she is doing a favor to Stephen. Again I think that, if she was not so sure in wanting something more, Stephen would have not changed his life, or at least not soon enough to be able to enjoy it.
Even if he is the initiator of their relationship, and in a way he is taking the place of Rachel, the ex-wife, in Stephen’s life, meaning that he will be probably the leader in their couple, Brian is not exactly the strong and domineering type. Brian is an easy guy, a good friend and a generous lover; sure, he is helping Stephen since he likes him, but I think that, even if sex was not an option, he would do it the same. Brian is not desperately searching for a partner, he is not feeling the urge to settle down, but he is not against the idea.
Brian and Stephen’s love story is nice and sweet, less sexy than expected (knowing Drew Zachary’s past production), but really romantic. It has an easy feeling, a smooth starts and an even smoother development, there is not really any obstacle to their happiness, and it’s nice and refreshing to read how they are settling down for a common life that will preannounce a good future together.
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Amazon: Emergency: A City Hospital Novel
Amazon Kindle: Emergency: A City Hospital Novel
Series: City Hospital
1) Heart Doctor: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1036266.html
2) Emergency
Reading List:
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